People

Kevin Powers has been selected as the new fire chief for the city of Sparta. Powers is a third-generation firefighter who most recently worked as a community disaster program specialist for the American Red Cross Heart of Tennessee chapter that covers much of Middle Tennessee. Prior to that, Powers...

MTAS Executive Director Margaret Norris is returning to her role as a municipal management consultant with the agency.  

Angie Carrier, program manager for municipal management consultants, will serve as interim executive director. 

“We appreciate Margaret for the eight years she served as executive...

Jon Glass, manager of the Tullahoma Municipal Airport, has announced his retirement after 26 years of service. Glass has overseen major airport improvements, secured grant funding, and managed daily airport operations since 1999, helping to power the city’s economic growth. During his tenure, the...

Keith Morrison, Algood city administrator and TML District 4 Director, has been selected as TML’s representative on the Local Government Corporation (LGC) Board. Headquartered in Columbia, LGC is a private, nonprofit corporation, chartered to provide computer services to local government entities...

Former University of Tennessee System President Dr. John Petersen died Sept. 11, 2025, at the age of 77 in Chapel Hill, N.C.  

Tennessee Municipal League Executive Director Anthony Haynes said Petersen helped support and grow higher education at UT and the services the university provides to the...

Charlie Cole, chief of the Gatlinburg Fire Department, has announced his intention to retire in January following a 38-year career with the city. Cole joined the Gatlinburg Fire Department in 1987 as a volunteer firefighter before transitioning into a full-time role. During his time with GFD, he...

Andrew Morkert has been selected as the interim city manager of Collegedale following the departure of Wayon Hines as city manager and city engineer. Morkert has served as the city’s building inspector and code enforcement official since 2009. Prior to that, he held several project management roles...

Josh Suddath has been named the executive director of the new Center for Local Planning with the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS). The position is funded from state recurring moneys to establish a dedicated local planning function to assist Tennessee’s cities and counties...

Craig Cruise has been selected as the new public information officer for the city of Pigeon Forge. Cruise is the first PIO in the city’s history and most recently served as the community outreach officer for the Pigeon Forge Police Department. As PIO, Cruise serves as the primary liaison between the...

TML At-Large Director and Kingsport Mayor Paul W. Montgomery recently hosted a special 90th birthday celebration to honor former Kingsport Mayors Hunter Wright and Jeanette Blazier. More than a dozen former and current aldermen as well as three city managers joined in on the festivities. Wright...

Kelly North has been named the new executive director of the Tullahoma Area Economic development Corporation (TAEDC) by the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The TAEDC serves to drive economic development in the Tullahoma region. North comes to Tullahoma from Bedford County where she has served...